Floatable kit



May 16, 1967 F. o. URBAN FLOATABLE KIT Filed Aug. 25, 1965 United States Patent Office 3,319,685 FLOATABLE KI'I` Frank O. Urban, Bronx, N.Y., assignor to Howe Plastic and Chemical Co., Inc., New Yorlk, N.Y. Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,772 3 Claims. (Cl. 150-52) This invention relates generally to the field of tool kits, of the type in which a exible cover is subdivided to form a plurality of pockets for the accommodation of various elongated tools `such .as wrenches, Screwdrivers, pliers, and the like.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a tool kit of the above-mentioned class particularly adapted for use in small boats by virtue of the fact that the device contains an inflatable element of sufficient capacity to maintain both kit and enclosed tools afloat should the same accidentally -be dropped overboard.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved `kit of the class described which may be alternately used as a cushion of pneumatic type.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved floatable kit possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the fact that the kit may be rolled up in well-known manner when in deflated condition.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have -been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective of a tool kit embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a View in elevation of the embodiment showing the same in opened planar condition.

FIGURE 3 is a similar view in elevation Ishowing the device after inflation thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the plane 4 4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 6 6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view corresponding to the upper portion of FIGURE 6.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: an inflatable element 11 and a pocket element 12.

The infiatable element 11 includes first and second planar walls 14 and 15, respectively, which are interconnected along a mutual continuous edge 16 thereof. Where the inflatable element is formed from synthetic resinous materials, this interconnection is most conveniently effected by heat-sealing. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the edge 16- includes an upper portion 17, a lower portion 18, and side portions 19 and Ztl. Penetrating the wall 14 is an inflating valve 21 of well-known type, by means of which the element 11 may be inflated or deflated as required. Adacent the side portion 19 is a heatsealed through opening 22 provided with a tie string 231.

The pocket element 12 is also of synthetic resinous material which is heat-sealed to the outer surface of the first planar wall 14, and includes first and second strips of material 25 and 26, respectively.

The first strip 25 is of rectangular configuration, bounded by side edges 28 and 29, a lower edge 30, and

3,3l985 Patented May 16, 1967 an upper edge 31 below which there is provided means 32 for mutual engagement with the second strip 26 (see FIGURE 7). The means 32 engages a corresponding means 33 on the strip 26, sealing being effected by pushing the two means together manually, and disengagement being accomplished by engaging the upper edge 31 with the fingernails of the user.

The first strip 25 is attached to the outer surface of the wall 14 by a plurality of parallel bar seals 34 having rounded terminals 35 to define a plurality of pockets 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40. The pockets 36-40 are of elongated configuration, and may accommodate various tools 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45, respectively.

The second strip 26 is considerably narrower than the first strip 25, and is bounded by end edges 47 and 48, an upper edge 49, and a lower edge 50 (see FIGURE 7) which is disposed beneath the upper edge 31.

When not in use, the device 10 may be folded or rolled and secured in such condition by the tie string 23, as seen in FIGURE l. In this condition, it occupies a minimum of storage space. For access to the tools 41-45, the tie string 23 is opened and the device may be unfolded to a flattened condition as seen in FIGURE 2. If the device is to be used as a cushion, or if the tools are to be used for an extended period of time, the infiatable element 11 may be iniiated through the val-ve 21 wherein it assumes the condition shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. In such condition, the effective volume occupied while inflated is sufficient to keep the device Iii afloat should it be accidentally dropped overboard or otherwise immersed.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. Flexible container construction comprising: an inflatable element, including first `and second planar walls of synthetic resinous material interconnected along the principal edges thereof as a result of heat-sealing to form a hollow enclosure; valve means communicating between said hollow enclosure and the exterior of said inflatable element; 'a pneumatically sealed opening extending thro-ugh said walls, and tie string means engaged within said opening; and at least one pocket element including rst and second fiexible synthetic resinous strips secured to one surface of one of said planar walls; said first strip being of greater width than said second strip and having upper, lower and side edges, said lower and side edges being heat-sealed to said outer surface of one of said planar walls to define a pocket open at the upper edge of said first strip, said second strip having upper, end -and lower edges, said upper and end edges being heat-sealed to said outer surface of said planar wall, said lower edge extending past said upper edge of said first strip, said first and second strips having selectively interconnectable means for closing said pocket.

2. Flexible container construction comprising: an infiatable element, including first and second planar walls of synthetic resinous material interconected along the principal edges thereof as a result of heat-sealing to form a hollow enclosure; valve means communicating between `said hollow enclosure and the exterior of said inflatable element; a pneumatically sealed opening extending through said walls, land tie string means engaged within said opening; and at least one pocket element including first and second flexible synthetic `resinous strips secured to one surface of one of said planar walls; said first strip being of greater width than said second strip and having upper, lower and side edges, said lower and side edges being heat-sealed to said outer surface of one of said planar wal-ls to define a plurality of pockets open at the upper edge of said first strip, said second strip having upper, end and lower edges, said upper and end edges being heatsealed to said outer surface of said planar wall, said lower edge extending past said upper edge of said first strip, said first and second strips having selectively interconnectable means for closing said pockets.

3. Flexible container construction comprising: an inflatable element, including first and second planar walls of synthetic resinous material interconnected along the principal edges thereof as a result of heat-sealing to form a hollow enclosure; vlave means communicating between said hollow enclosure and the exterior of said inflatable element; a pneumatically sealed opening extending through said walls, and tie string means engaged within said opening; and at elast one pocket element including first and second fiexible synthetic resinous strips secured to one surface of one of said planar walls; said first strip being of greater width than said second strip and having upper, lower and side edges, said lower and side edges being heat-sealed to said outer surface of one of said planar walls to define a plurality of pockets open at the upper edge of said first strip, said second strip having upper, end and lower edges, said upper and end edges being heat-sealed to said outer surface of said planar wall, said lower edge extending past said upper edge of said first strip, `said first and second strips having selectively interconnectable means for closing said pockets; said pockets being separated from each other by a plurality of parallel bar seals interconnecting said first and second strips to said planar wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,389 12/1925 Peacock 150--52 1,864,648 6/1932 Haines 190-42 2,545,611 3/1951 Flannery 206-16 3,204,678 9/1965 Worcester 150-1 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. FLEXIBLE CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: AN INFLATABLE ELEMENT, INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND PLANAR WALLS OF SYNTHETIC RESINOUS MATERIAL INTERCONNECTED ALONG THE PRINCIPAL EDGES THEREOF AS A RESULT OF HEAT-SEALING TO FORM A HOLLOW ENCLOSURE; VALVE MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID HOLLOW ENCLOSURE AND THE EXTERIOR OF SAID INFLATABLE ELEMENT; A PNEUMATICALLY SEALED OPENING EXTENDING THROUGH SAID WALLS, AND TIE STRING MEANS ENGAGED WITHIN SAID OPENING; AND AT LEAST ONE POCKET ELEMENT INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND FLEXIBLE SYNTHETIC RESINOUS STRIPS SECURED TO ONE SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID PLANAR WALLS; SAID FIRST STRIP BEING OF GREATER WIDTH THAN SAID SECOND STRIP AND HAVING UPPER, LOWER AND SIDE EDGES, SAID LOWER AND SIDE EDGES BEING HEAT-SEALED TO SAID OUTER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID PLANAR WALLS TO DEFINE A POCKET OPEN AT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST STRIP, SAID SECOND STRIP HAVING UPPER, END AND LOWER EDGES, SAID UPPER AND END EDGES BEING HEAT-SEALED TO SAID OUTER SURFACE OF SAID PLANAR WALL, SAID LOWER EDGE EXTENDING PAST SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST STRIP, SAID FIRST AND SECOND STRIPS HAVING SELECTIVELY INTERCONNECTABLE MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID POCKET. 